EDITOR’S NOTE: For 27 years, Peninsula Daily News readers in Jefferson and Clallam counties have supported the “hand up, not a handout” Peninsula Home Fund.
Today, we feature another in a series of articles on how the fund operates and who benefits from our readers’
generosity.
To donate online by credit card, click on www.secure.peninsuladailynews.com/homefund.
IF YOU WEAR eyeglasses, stop for a moment to think about how much they change your life.
Take them off for just a few minutes . . . what’s your world like?
Can you image if you needed eyeglasses, but you couldn’t afford to buy them?
Could you read?
Could you see the faces of your children?
Could you drive or hold a job?
If you were a child, could you do your schoolwork? Or see what’s on the blackboard so you could participate in class?
A pair of glasses can turn someone’s life around.
Every year, the Peninsula Daily News’ “hand up, not a handout” Peninsula Home Fund provides new prescription eyeglasses to residents of Jefferson and Clallam
counties.
They go to children, the elderly and others who are desperately trying to make ends meet.
Without the help of the Home Fund, these people often have to choose between purchasing food, medicine and clothes or getting prescription eyeglasses.
Even with the advent of the Affordable Care Act, there are many who do not have vision coverage and cannot afford to pay the average $154 cost of an eye exam and $200 cost for a pair of eyeglasses (according to VSP, a vision care insurance leader).
Because of eyeglasses obtained through the Home Fund, children can succeed in school, unemployed adults can find jobs and support their families, and seniors can remain independent and safe in the dignity of their own homes.
Glasses can be priceless
Each person’s story is different, but every pair of glasses obtained through the Home Fund made an immediate and real difference to a grateful Peninsula resident.
■ A fifth-grader in Port Angeles was labeled a “problem learner” — he had lost interest in school, his grades were failing, he had become almost an outcast because he was not learning at the same level as the other children.
His parents and teachers finally realized it was all due to vision problems. From a low-income family, visits to the pediatrician had been infrequent and vision screening nonexistent.
He received glasses through the Home Fund, and it was “amazing how his whole demeanor changed,” said his mother. “He could actually read a book and enjoy it and not get frustrated.”
For him, the most valuable gift he ever got was a pair of eyeglasses.
■ For a woman in Port Townsend, new glasses allow her to drive her car to work.
They let her maintain her job as a health aide and read stories to her grandchildren.
■ A retired U.S. Forest Service employee in Forks got new glasses through the Home Fund after his old ones literally fell apart.
He had Scotch-taped the lenses into the frames.
He couldn’t afford to buy a new pair on his federal pension, which barely covered the cost of food and rent.
With clear vision, life holds new promise
Peninsula’s safety net
Between now and New Year’s Eve, the Peninsula Home Fund — a safety net for North Olympic Peninsula residents when there is nowhere else to turn — is seeking contributions for our annual holiday season fundraising campaign.
From Port Townsend to Forks, from Quilcene and Brinnon to Sequim and LaPush, the Home Fund — now in its 27th year — is a “hand up, not a handout” for children, teens, families and the elderly to get through an emergency
situation.
In addition to eyeglasses, Home Fund money pays for hot meals for seniors in Jefferson and Clallam counties; meeting rent, energy and transportation needs; warm winter coats for kids; home repairs for the low-income; needed prescription drugs; dental work; safe and drug-free temporary housing . . . the list goes on.
No deductions by PDN
So far this year, the Home Fund has helped more than 2,700 individuals and families in Jefferson and Clallam counties.
No money is deducted by the Peninsula Daily News for administration fees or any other overhead.
Every penny goes to OlyCAP — nonprofit Olympic Community Action Programs — the No. 1 emergency-care agency on the Peninsula.
Among its many responsibilities, OlyCAP also manages the Home Fund for the PDN, screening applicants, carefully disbursing the funds and providing life-changing counseling and services to those who need that “hand up.”
Assistance is also limited to one time in a 12-month period.
The average amount of help this year has been $62.04 per person or family.
All instances of help are designed to get an individual or family through a crisis — and back on the path to self-sufficiency.
Home Fund case managers often work with each individual or family to develop a plan to become financially stable — and avoid a recurrence of the emergency that prompted aid from the fund.
As needed, Peninsula Home Fund contributions are often used in conjunction with money from churches, service clubs and other donors, enabling OlyCAP to stretch the value of the contribution.
The goal again: “a hand up, not a handout.”
All contributions are IRS tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law for the year in which the check is written.
Your personal information is kept confidential.
PDN and OlyCAP do not rent, sell, give or otherwise share your address or other information with anyone or make any other use of it.
Out of money Dec. 31
Since its beginning in 1989, the fund has relied on the support of Clallam and Jefferson residents.
Individuals, couples, businesses, churches, organizations and school groups set a new record for contributions in 2014 — $271,981 — smashing the old record of $268,389 set Dec. 31, 2013.
As of Sept. 30, $168,364 has been spent for Home Fund grants.
And as we move into winter, the toughest period of the year, all of the remaining money — $119,000 — is expected to be spent before Dec. 31.
How to apply for a Home Fund grant
To apply for a Peninsula Home Fund grant, contact one of the three OlyCAP offices:
■ OlyCAP’s Port Angeles office is at 228 W. First St., Suite J (Armory Square Mall); 360-452-4726. For Port Angeles and Sequim area residents.
■ Its Port Townsend office is at 823 Commerce Loop; 360-385-2571. For Jefferson County residents.
■ The Forks office is at 421 Fifth Ave.; 360-374-6193. For West End residents.
Leave a message in the voice mail box at any of the three numbers, and a Home Fund caseworker will phone you back.
OlyCAP’s website: www.olycap.org; email: action@olycap.org.
If you have any questions about the fund, phone Terry Ward, PDN publisher, at 360-417-3500. Or email tward@peninsuladailynews.com
Contributions so far
We’ve gotten a running start on this year’s holiday season fundraising campaign.
A number of generous individuals and organizations have been donating money to the Peninsula Home Fund since the first of the year.
While most of the money is raised between Thanksgiving and Dec. 31, the fund itself never closes.
Donations of any amount are always welcome.
To donate online by credit card, please click on www.secure.peninsuladailynews.com/homefund.
Below is a list of donors whose contributions were processed between Jan. 1 and Nov. 24.
Thank you very much for making a difference in the lives — and futures — of your neighbors:
• Jim’s Pharmacy, Port Angeles — $1,043.28. The Home Fund was Jim’s “Shop with Loyalty and Shop Locally” Charity of the Month for December 2014. Each month, Jim’s donates a portion of its profits from over-the-counter sales, plus donations from customers and employees, to a local nonprofit organization.
• Ann R. Kennedy, Port Angeles — $50.
• Peggy Dire Olesen, Sequim — $200. In memory of Budman Dire and Michael Brown, two very awesome guys.
• M.P. Minor, Sequim — $100.
• Mary E. Sperling, Port Angeles — $50. In memory of Michael E. Fish.
• Bob and Virginia Kuhn, Port Angeles – $100.
• Just Dolls of Washington, Port Angeles – $500. For the Home Fund, as mentioned in the Peninsula Daily News’ Feb. 6, 2015, article about our doll show and sale on Feb 7, which was our most successful show. Our next show will be our club’s 20th here in Port Angeles. Our drawing will again benefit the Home Fund.
• Scotty and Carol McComb, Port Ludlow – $100. In honor of Doug Stork.
• Xi Iota Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, Port Angeles – $500.
• John Brewer, Port Angeles – $100. In honor of the staff of the Peninsula Daily News. I am proud of all of you, and I bid you all a heartfelt thanks.
• John Brewer, Port Angeles – $100. In honor of those dedicated professionals who are still with us in spirit: Henry Acevedo, Tom Thompson, Brad LaBrie, Gary Jones, Jim Manders and Verlie Wynn.
• Andrew T. May, Port Angeles – $900. Proceeds from Andrew May’s Peninsula Daily News Garden Bus Tour to the 2015 Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle.
• Elaine and Gary Nelson, Port Townsend – $100.
• Samuel Shusterman, Port Townsend – $300. In memory of Frances P. Shusterman.
Many thanks also to these donors (who requested that the amount of their donation be kept private):
• Brad Anderson, Port Angeles.
• Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann, Sequim.
• James R. Martin, Sequim.
• Carla Michaels, Sequim.
• Jake and Louise Marley, Port Townsend
• Janiell McLaughlin, Port Angeles.
• Hazel, Judy, Lorraine and Marian, Port Angeles. In memory of Violet M. Johnson.
• Colleen Lamb-Gunnerson and Byron Gunnerson, Port Angeles. In memory of Violet M. Johnson.
• Robert Sheridan, Sequim
• Olympic Springs, Inc., Carlsborg.
• Emily Marcus and Willie Burer, Port Angeles.
• Ellen Dustman, Port Townsend.
• Katherine Johnson, Quilcene.
• Walter E. Johnson, Port Angeles. In memory of Violet M. Johnson.
• Beth Bower, Port Angeles. In memory of my sons, Donald and Michael Bower.
• Patricia McElroy, Winston-Salem, N.C. In honor of Bruce and Jenna Brod.
• Katherine Johnson, Quilcene.
• Walter E. Johnson, Port Angeles. In memory of Violet M. Johnson.
• Janiell McLaughlin, Port Angeles.
• Richard Christianson, Sequim. In memory of Laura Christianson.
• Robert Pfeiffer, Port Angeles.
• Steve Edison, Sequim.
• I.B.E.W. Local 997, Port Angeles. In memory of Laura Christianson.
• Robert Sheridan, Sequim.
• Alan and Michaelle Barnard, Port Angeles.
• Rita Heywood, Sequim. In memory of Robert Lee.
• Olympic Springs Inc., Carlsborg.
• John Sealander, San Francisco, Calif. In memory of Audrey Kaplan.
• Joe Cammack, Port Angeles.
• Larry and Sandy Davidson, Sequim.
• Hoch Construction Inc., Port Angeles.
• George Jacobssen, Port Ludlow.
• Alfred and Barb Deese, Port Angeles. In memory of Ann Holke.
• Jaqueline and Neil Eklund, Sequim.
• Ellen and Ted Tsoneff, Port Angeles.
• Fred and Ann Weinmann, Port Townsend.
• Kevin and Connee Foster, Port Angeles.
• Anita Leccese, Sequim. Blessings to all that they may be warm and healthy with good food to eat.
• Jay F. Burcham, Port Townsend. In loving memory of my wife, Shirley M. Burcham.
• Norman Gallacci, Lacey. Deceased and present members of the Gallacci and Morris families.
Many thanks also to these donors (who requested anonymity):
• Port Angeles – $100.
• Port Angeles – $400.
• Port Townsend – $100. In memory of Gerald Thorsen.
• Port Angeles – $25. In honor of Anna Barrigan.
• Port Townsend – $100.
• Tacoma – $200.
• Port Ludlow – $75. In memory of my great-grandparents, William and Veronica Laverick.
• Port Ludlow – $10.
• Port Angeles – $2,000. In memory of Jack “Rocky” Rockwell. Thank you for the past 36 years we loved, laughed and lived for. You made me your “Queen of Hearts.” Memories of our many trips to tropical islands will remain in my heart forever. “Aloha oe,” my love. Until we meet again.
• Port Angeles – $10.
• Port Angeles – $75. In memory of Helen Wood.
• Forks – $125.
• Sequim – $25.
• Sequim – $5. God bless.
• Sequim – $25. In memory of Pamela Ward Roberson.
• Port Angeles – $1,000. In memory of Eleanor Naddy.
• Port Angeles – $200.
• Sequim – $100.
• Port Townsend – $300.
• Sequim – $25.
_________
EVEN THE BEST handwriting can be hard to decipher at times.
Please report any errors in this list to Terry Ward, 360-417-3500 (there’s voice mail if he’s away), or email him at tward@peninsuladailynews.com.
We’ll rerun the listing correctly.
Our sincerest appreciation again to our donors.